r lis 

.6.S 



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NEW CITY HALL PROPOSED, 

Extending entirely around the Park. Present buildings 
removed. Three times the space for recreation other plans 
allow. l-'"irst Story 21 Arches, and rooms for Stores, &c. Sec- 
ond, third and fourth Stories, a Passage Hall through the 
centre of each, with rooms for Courts and City Authorities oa 
Purity and Lawyer's Olfices, kc. on street side of Passage 
Halls. Whole of fifth Story, Park Hall with Galleries— a Ba- 
zaar. Whole top, Monument Park— a Promenade. Four Bal- 
conies, one each, around second and third Stories on street and 
Park fronts. Eight Monuments: Washington, Hamilton, 
Lafayette, Jefferson, Madison, Clinton, Fulton and Franklin, 
each with Balconies and Statues. Washington Monument ^0 
feet high with ,2^ Balconies. Have a model of City Hall 
proposed. Have been at work on my City Hall plan t|toD 
years without pay. Now need raeans to perfect, complete and 
properly present for adoption said plan, which I propose to ob- 
tain by subscriptions and the sale of my Pamphlets, (four for 
:^1, twenty-five for $5,) entitled Outline of a new City Hall. 

Citizens of New-York ! give me the means and I will give 
you complete the plan, which, without any tax or cost to the 
City if desired, will suitably improve and adorn the Park, 
combining, in patriotic form, in one magnificent structure, 
unequalled accommodations for the transaction of public and 
private business, with vasyaud varied opportunities for recre- 
ation. D. HOUGH Jr. 39 Liberty-St. 



OUTLIISrE 

OF A 

NB-W CITY HALL, 

Requiring no tax or expenditure by the City, — with Monuments, 

Balconies, Protnonades, Decorations, spacious Halls. 

Rooms for Courts. Public and Private Offices, Banks, Storof, 

&c — the whole worthy of New York — bringing thousands 

of visitors to the city annually, — benefiting every 

branch of trade and industry in our great Metropolis. 

Entered according to •i/ct of Congress, in the yeai- ISJ'3, by 

D. HOUGH, Jr 

In the Clerk's Office of the DistrietCoiiyt of the United States for the Southern 

District of >^ew- York. 



STAIRS. CHAMBERS 




Plan of 1*» Slory of proposed IVew City Hall, rxtendidg entire- 
ly iirouud the Park. 

Designated narrow, white spacos indicate tbo position and range of the passage 
arche.s, and arches containing stairs. Narrow, white spaces, without designation, 
inrlicate the position, range and about the number of rooms for stores, banks and 
offlcos. Spaces W H and \V M show, respectively, the locality and limits of Washing- 
U'n H.iUaud Washington Monument. E K — Entrances to VTashington Monument. 







Plan of 2d, 3d and 4iii Stories. 

The inner black space, indicates the 
space for rooms for tbe Courts and City 
Authorities, and for private offices, in 
part, in 4th story ; the outer black 
space, the space for private business 
rooms and offices ; narrow white space, 
main passage hall ; "W H, "Washington 
Hall, and W. part passed through by 
Washington Monument. Dots, ( , ) 
Stairs. 





Plan of main floor of Park Hall in 
5th Story. 

The black spaces indicate the parts 
with counters, fixtures, &o, necessary 
for a magnificent exhibition and sales- 
loom : tne narrow white spaces, the 
principal walks or passages, and W, 
the part passed through by Washing- 
ton Monument. 



.<4 



>. 







FULTON 

MUNUMENT 



MADISON 
MONUMENT 



LAfAYEHE. 
MONUMENT 



V/ASaiNGTON^, ,^MONUMENT 
PILIAR. AND STATUE OF WASIiiNeTON 



PLAN OF MONUMENT PARK, 

Top ofi City Hall proposed. 

Showing the position of the Monuments, &c. 



1ST SECTION OF PROPOSED 
NEWClTY^HAtl. 
^40 FEET. 



^5 i 




^v.„->' 



NEW CITY HALL, 



r».OI»OSE!I> 



D. HOUGH, Jr. 



As a new City Hall can be built unequaled ia utility and architectural 
attractions, giving the City Authorities, without cost, all the rooms and 
cflfices they want, giving to the public opportunities for recreation at all sea- 
sons, greatly superior to those which the present Park afifords, and putting 
thousands of dollars into the City Treasury instead of taking millions out^ 
the undersigned respectfully presents for consideration the following outline 
of his plan for said City Hall, answering, he believes, the purposes aforesaid. 

Beginning on Chambers-Sireet, erect and complete by sections, all within 
four years, a fire proof, five story, marble, gothic block, extending entirely 
around the Park, removing the Hall of Records and the present buildings 
on Chambers Street at the commencement of the work on the 4th or last 
section hereinafter located and described, and, on the completion of said 4th 
section, removing the present City Hall to Madison Square, or some other 
up town location, for an up town Post Office, or other desired public use^ 
making by said removal the Park as a promenade superior in nearly every 
respect to what it would be by any of the plans of others. Build the afore- 
said block 100 feet wide and 100 feet high, or of sufficient height to com- 
mand from the top a full view of the B;iy, Harbor and City of New-York. 

Make the fronts of said block, a marble, gothic colonnade, or range 0£ 
columns 6 feet apart in the clear joining and making at the top, a range of 
pointed arches, upon the tops of which shall be placed statues of Continen- 



6 

tal officers and soldiers, distinguished patriots, orators, statesmen, discover- 
ers, inventors, philanthropists, and other decorations. Make each space 
between said columns a Gothic window with a heavy frame work of iron. — 
A street view of the belfry windows of Trinity Church will suggest, in part, 
a description, and also, the effect of the fronts proposed. 

The block described will leave a triangular space south of a line across 
the Park from Brick Church property to Park Place. Build on this space 
joining with the block aforesaid, making the front on the Park circular. — 
Build here, theatre like^ between the basement and 5th story, a Washington 
Hall extending to the passage halls hereinafter described, having the main 
entrance of said Washington Hall on the Park. Make the rear part of said 
Washington Hall a spacious arch in Washington Monument hereinafter de- 
scribed. Place upon a pedestal near the Washington Hall front of this 
arch, two Statues, one of George and one of Martha Washington, both in 
early middle life. Make two entrances to aforesaid aroh and Hall, one on 
Park Row and one on Broadway. 

Divide the 1st story and basement of the City Hall proposed into rooms 
for banks, stores, &c. allowing space to build through said 1st story in '^ets* 
three in a set, 21 arches each 21 ft wide, each side arch 16 ft high and each 
centre arch 25 feet high, the latter passing through a part of the 2d story. 
Build the 1st set aforesaid, in the center of the block on Chambers-Street; 
the 2d set on Centre-Street, 100 feet from Cbambers-Street : the 3d set on 
Park Row, opposite French's Hotel ; the 4th set on Park Row opposite 
Brick Church property ; the 5th set on Broadway, opposite Park Place ; 
the 6th set on Broadway, opposite Murray-Street, and the 7th set on Broad- 
way, 100 feet from Chambers-Street. 

Make 10 wide stairways from said 1st story to the top of aforesaid block 
around the Park: one at the junction of Park Row and Broadway ; one on 
Chambers-Street, 40 feet from Broadway ; one on Chumbers-Street, 40 feet 
from Centre-Street, and one commencing either side in each of the arches, 
25 feet high. 

Make passage halls, 20 feet wide, through the centre and entire circuit 
of the 2d, 3d and 4th stories of aforesaid block around the Park. Divide, 
to the extent required, the space on the Park side of said passage halls into 
rooms and offices for the use of the City Authorities, the City, State and 
United States Courts, with allowance between these r^oras and offices, or 
suits of the same, for side passages leading from aforesaid passage halls. 



Place most of the main entrance doors to said rooms and offices on said side 
passages ; make two doors to all main entrances to said rooms and offices. 
On said passage halls and side passages, except the space for doors, make 
for aforesaid rooms and offices solid walls of marble or brick, or marble and 
brick. Make all the Court and City G overnment rooms and offices proposed, 
front both On the Park and on said passage halls. Thus all of ¥a\d rooms 
and offices, having every convenience, will be most attractively and 
pleasantly situated, away from the dust and noise of the surrounding streets, 
and from all annoyance or din of conversation of persons walking in the pas- 
sage halls. Divide the remaining space on the Park side of the passage 
halls aforesaid, into rooms for private offices. Divide all of the space on the 
street side of said passage halls, into rooms for private offices and places of 
business, making in this division a large number of windows to front on said 
passage halls. From these windows, from the stairways and side passages 
aforesaid, the passage halls in every part, will have ample light. 

Construct balconies of iron, wide for walks, on the street and inner fronts 
of the 2d and 3d stories of the block around the Park. On the fronts of 
said balconies, build an ornamental iron railing, with pedestals connected, 
and in line with this railing, upon which shall be placed statues, figures, and 
other appropriate representations. 

Make the whole of the 5th story one room, 33 feet high, to be called 
Park Hall ; said Park Hall to have a principal walk through the centre, 20 
feet wide, to have on either side of said walk an endless gallery, with a walk 
12 feet wide, along the front ot each gallery ; and to have in the galleries 
and on the main floor, a great number of counters and spaces, for the exhi- 
bition and sale of the finer articles of merchandize, and works of art and in- 
dustry of all nations. This Hail, designed to be the largest and most splen- 
did in the world, will be mainly 100 feet wide, will be in the widest part at 
the triangular space at the junction of Park Row and Broadway, 300 feet 
wide, will be in all parts 83 feet high, and will be full 2,400 feet, or, nearly 
half a mile in length. 

Make the whole top of the City Hall proposed, a promenade, to be called 
Monument Park. Make the top of the fronts aforesaid, answer for a rail- 
ing around said Monument Park. 

On the front of said Monument Park, connecting with Washington Monu- 
ment at the junction of Park Row and Broadway, construct a marble pillar 
(ascended by steps to an arch therein,) and place, in miiiorra, upon the top 
of said pillar, an equestrian statue of Washington. 



8 

Build eight Monuments : Washington Monument, oposite Barclay Street, 
making in part, the angle at junction of Park Row and Broadway — form 
octagon, base 150 foot ; height of walls, 540feet; dome and spire, (after St, 
Paul's, Londun) height 60 feet, entire height 600 feet ; structure, a succs- 
fcion of tiers of iron bound arches from basement to dome ; outer part above 
Monument Park aforesaid, so far as harmony of parts, solidity and strength 
will allow, like fronts aforesaid, with every 20 feet up to dome a balcony, 
thus 22 balconies, each in material and structure the same as before describ- 
ed ; inner part, from basement to dome, a^ railway ; stairway winding around 
railway ; rooms and passages between stairway and balconies, with doors al- 
lowing entrance and exit lo and from said rooms, passages, stairway and 
balconies; diameter of said monument, made 4 feet less at each balcony: — 
Hamilton Monument over arches opposite Park Place, height 194 feet ; 
Lafayette Monument over arches opposite Brick Church property, height 
194 feet ; Jefferson Monument over arches opposite Murray-Street, height 
260 feet ; Madison Monument over arches opposite French's Hotel, height 
260 feet ; Clinton Monument over arches on Broadway 100 feet from 
Chambers-Street, height 1 94 feet ; Fulton Monument over arches on Cen 
tre 100 feet from Chambers-Street, height 194 feet, and Franklin Monu- 
mcQt over arches in the centre of the block on Chambers-Street, height 260 
feet : — the seven Monuments last named, to have no railway, but in other 
respects above Monument Park, to be in style and strucutre mainly like 
Washington Monument. 

Upon a pedestal on the Park front, in the highest balcony on each monu- 
ment 194 feet high, in the balcony of the same range, on each monument 
260 feet high, and m the balcony two balconies, higher than these on monu- 
ment 600 feet high, place a statue of the person for whom respectively, said 
monuments are named, representing thus in council, the greatest and best 
men in America. The monuments proposed, may if desired have less aver- 
age and different relative heights, without material architectural disadvant- 
age, making consequently the cost less. 

To warm the whole buildiug proposed, lay sufficiently and in the best 
manner in every room and hall, steam pipes, connecting with 4 boilers, in 
vaults under the Park, adjoining the block around the same, one each op 
podte Washington, Jefferson, Madison and Franklin monuments. Build- 
a chimney from each boiler vault, in connection with and through partition 
walls, to the base of the dome of each of said monuments. Extend said chim- 
neys thence to the top of the domes of said monuments, by means of ilat- 
tened arched pipes, which shall be a part of the framework of these domes. 
Place a hollow iron spire upon the top of each of said domes, which shall be 
the continuation and top ef said chiumeyes ; and place also like spires, upon 



each of the other domes — all or in part to be in the form of a plain tapering 
pipe with a globe top, or of a volcanic peak, or of an immense censer, sup- 
ported by two Indian chiefs on opposite sides of said censer. So lay afore- 
said steam pipes, that escape steam from the same, will go out of each of 
the spires or chimneys aforesaid. 

Stoves, pipes and chimaeys, made in the usual way, connecting with hol- 
low, cast iron spires, 12 feet high, and placed 21 feet apart upon the top of 
the fronts aforesaid, answering, thus, for the tops of chimneys and for orna- 
ments, shall, if decided best, be the substitute for the steam warming appa- 
ratus described. 

Make the basement floors of stone. Make all the other floors and the 
roof throughout, a succession of corrugated iron beams, calked water-tight, 
said beams to be either tubular, or shaped transversely, like the top part of 
the capital letter T. 

Build the block around the Park in 4 sections: — 1st section on Chambers 
Street, from the present new City Hall to Broadway, 2d section on Broad- 
way and Pack Row, opposite to and between Park Place and Brick Church 
property, 3d section on Broadway, between 1st and 2d sections, and the 
4th section on Park Row, Centre and Chambers Streets, between 1st and 
2d sections. ., 

My plan can be partly carried out to advantage by building the 1st sec- 
tion only, or the 1st and 2d sections, or the 1st, 2d and 3d sections above 
named. 

But first build and complete, within two years, the 1st section aforesaid, 
allowing all of the present buildings in the Park to remain as they are. 
This 1st section, by itself, would be an ornament to the city. Every part., 
like the whole structure contemplated, would have a practical use ; — the 
basement and 1st story being occupied by stores, offices, &c., the 2d, 3d 
and 4th stories by spacious stairways, passage halls, and rooms for the use 
of the Courts and City Authorities, and for private offices and places of 
business; the 5th story by one room, 33 feet high, 100 feet wide, and 400 
feet long, the whole top by a promenade, and the fronts of the 2d and 3d 
stories on Chambers Street, Broadway and the Park, each by a balcony. 

If preferred, the Courts and City Authorities, could occupy, with every 
convenience, the whole of the Ist, 2d, 3d and 4th stories last named, and 



10 

thtes, with the nse of the present buildings in the Park, would hare excel- 
lent accommodatioae. I estimate the eutlr© cost of the 1st Bection at one 
million of dollarR. 

If the expenditure by the Corporation for tho whole work proposed, is 
deemed inexpedient, the undersigned ^vith others, for the right to hi or 
lease the stores, private offices, &c. before named, will agree to build and 
complete in four years, and thenceforth to keep in good I'epair, the new City 
Hall herein proposed, to furnish in said City Hall, rent free, all the rooms 
tind offices required for the use of the City Authorities, to give to the Pub- 
lic the free use of the walks, street front balconies, passage halls, 10 stair- 
ways and the promenade or Monument Park aforesaid, and to pay into the 
City Treasury not less than one hundred thousand dollars. 

Thus profitably and magnificently by private enterprise, or with equal re- 
sult by the Corporation, a new City Hall can be built, which, besides its 
other advantages, would in the building give employment to a large number 
of mechanics and laborers, and, when completed, would bring annually a 
great number of visitors within and upon its walls, thereby adding a new 
source of prosperity to our city. 

All know that numerous plans for a new City Hail have been proposed, 
all of which fail to answer the desired architectural effects and vast uses for 
which saidiCity Hall is wanted on that matchless plot, the New- York Park. 
The attempt, for instance, at " harmony and unity throughout," by the plan 
to build a three story building, enclosing more than half the sides and the 
whole rear of the present City Hall, a two story building, is spoken of hr 
another as an " architectural abortion." Two and three story buildings in 
the lower part of the City of New-York, whether singly or in attempted 
" harmony and unity," are certainly out of date. Four and five story build- 
ings, in the locality named, are now the rule. Why, then, should the new 
City Hall be an exception to this rule ? No good reason can be given. A 
five story building around the Park (present buildings removed,) with colon- 
nade fronts, with lines of statues and other decorations, with balconies both 
on the street and Park fronts, with ranges of stores and offices, with ranges 
of Court and City Government rooms and offices, with spacious passage 
halls, with a Park Hall occupying the whole of 5th story, with the wl.o'e top 
or roof a promenade, having, also, arches, domes, spires, a Washington 
Hall, Washington Monument and other mdhumcnts, all as before described, 
is the structure New- York now wants for public and private business use, 
for ornament to command the world's admiration, and for recreation for a 
million of inhabitants- 



11 

la the course of the discussion upon the merits of the different plans pro- 
posed for a new City Hall, the following inquiries, quite likely will be 
made : — 

What would be the Park left by Mr. Hough's plan ? 

What would be the Park left by the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & 
Stewart ? 

The plan of Messrs. G-ilbert, Jackson & Stewart, would cut up the Park 
beyond 40 feet north of the front line of the present City Hall, leaving it thus: 
side walk on Centre-Street 76 feet wide , side walk on Chambers-Street 61 
feet wide, side walk on Broadway 55 feet wide, and court between the new 
building erected and the present City Hall 190 by 295 feet ; said walks and 
court making an area of about 125,000 square feet, but all comparatively 
useless as a promenade and part of the Park, by being used to a great ex- 
tent as a side walk, and also, by being mostly out of sight of the main body 
of the Park. Justly speaking, the Park left by the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, 
Jackson & Stewart, would be the present Park south of the front line of the 
present City Hall, containing about 191,000 square feet. 

The Park left by the plan of the undersigned, would contain about 19T,000 
square feet, and would be nearly the same in form as the present Park south 
of the front line of the present City Hall. Every part of the inner balco- 
nies aforesaid, would command every part of the Park made as I propose. 
As there would be free access to these balconies, except during court 
hours, I add their space to that of the Park left by my plan, making to- 
gether about 217,000 square feet, or nearly five acres. The area in all, of 
the Park, court and walks which we should have by the plan of Messrs. 
Gilbert, Jackson & S!;ewart, would not exceed 7 acres ; whereas, the area 
of the Park (Court Park,) the aforesaid promenade (Monument Park} and 
the aforesaid balconies, walks and halls for recreation, which I propose, 
would be full 17 acres, or 10 acres more than by the plan of Messrs. Gilbert, 
Jackson & Stewart, and nearly 7 acres more than the entire area of the 
present Park. 

Tlie Park by the plan of the undersigned, would be immediately a p- 
proached by 21 arches, surrounded by a most imposing marb'.e and crystal 
palace, overlooked br statues and monuments. The Park by other plans 
proposed, would be ofte-iest immediately approached in a cloud or irapalpa. 
blc mist of dust, immediately overlooked by nothing better than lamp posts, 
and surrounded, without doubt, in part by good flag stone and good railing, 
and in part by brok«a flag stone, old railing and no railing at all 



It is said that the erection of the new City Hall proposed by Messrs. 
Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, would cost the Corporation five millions of 
dollars. This or any snm less thus expended, would be so much lost to the 
city, because no adequate return in rents would be made. The new City 
Hall proposed by the undersigned, would probably cost seven millions of 
dollars, and would pay a good interest on this sum to the Corporation, or to 
individuals on the conditions aforesaid. In the fact that I propose to add 
one block only to all the blocks of buildings in the City of New- York, — 
height of proposed block 5 stories, entire street front about 2500 feet, 
cost $1,000,000. — I cannot, justly, be accused of novelty, or of a purpose to 
increase, at unheard of cost, the size of our city beyond due bounds. 

Except in unequal heights, all the objections herein mentioned to the plan 
of Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, apply to the plan of Messrs. Buck- 
man. The Messrs. Buckman propose to add one story to the preseut City 
Hall, and then to erect three similar buildings: — one on the north-east cor- 
ner, one on the north-west corner, and one on the north side of the present City 
Hall, making, in a quadrangle, four City Halls, and, in all, scattered over 
the north end of the Park, eight buildings, namely : four City Halls afore 
said, Hall of Records, new building corner of Centre and Chainbers-Streets:, 
old Post Office and present now City Hall on Chambers-Street. Th.s odd 
collection of buildings, different styles, plots, dimensions, stories, old, new, 
brown stone, marble, brick, part with cupolas, part without, part in quad- 
rangle, and part scattering without regard to position, would no doubt be 
regarded, as a whole, as a standard model, presenting, in fairest view, the 
sublime beauties of patch work architecture. 

But the quadrangle. Well, would Phidias propose four Partbenons in a 
quadrangle? No. Would Michael Angelo propose four St. Peter's 
Cathedrals in a quadrangle ? No. Would Sir Christopher VVren propose 
four St. Paul's Cathedrals in a quadrangle ? No. Would the architect of the 
present City Hall propose four City Halls in a quadrangle ? Certainly not, 
because in this, as in the other instances given, a quadrangle of duplicates would 
violate the simplest rules of architecture, each building named, as designed 
by the architect, being in all material respects, complete without any addi- 
tions or alterations whatever. Evidently the Messrs. Buckman have not, of 
late, been in communication either with the spirit of the works, or with the 
spirits of the great departed named, and refered to aforesaid. 

Should the up-town interest compel the Corporation to remove the public 
offices to the upper part of the city, within twenty five or fifty years, then 
the building around the Park, which I now propose, would be just the 
building wanted, and, if now built, would then be just as good as a new 
one- whereas, in the event of the removal, as mentioned, of said public offi- 



13 

ces, the buildings which we should have in the Park by the plans, either of 
Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart, or of Messrs. Buckman, would be value- 
less. 

Remember that the space which I propose for recreation, would be more 
than three times larger than that which the plans of Messrs. Buckman, or 
Messrs. Gilbert, Jackson & Stewart allow, and that unquestionably for every 
person going to the present Park for recreation and healthful exercise, a 
hundred for like purposes, would resort to the Parks and promenades pro- 
posed by the undersigned. 

I ask the special attention of those composing our Courts and City Gov- 
vernment, to the convenience, one with the other, and, also, to the seclusion 
and retirement of all the rooms and ofi&ces I propose for their use. 

By my plfju for a new City Hall, there will be a large number of lawyers 
oflBces. I ask the special attention of lawyers to the convenience of these offi- 
ces, in enabling occupants to go to all the principal courts and public 
offices in the city without going out of said building. The conveniences 
named and the general merits of plan for a new City Hall, will, I trust, bring 
to my aid the efficient support of the entire legal profession. I shall proba- 
bly need, to some extent, this aid and support with that of the Press, be- 
cause I well know that a great improvement, such as I propose, will encoun- 
ter more or less unscrupulous opposition from interested and short sighted 
persons. ' 

To build a suitable Washington Monument in the City of New- York has 
been the often expressed desire of our public spirited citizens. But no suit- 
able plan has been proposed. The undersigned offers a plan to which he 
asks the special attention of all New-Yorkers. Use is sought, A splendid 
yet practicable height is named The combination on a large scale, of monu- 
ments, arches, fronts, walls, domes, spires, rooms, halls, walks, galleries, 
balconies, promenades, statues and decorations," forming the structure before 
described, is the plan offered, revealing, it is believed, the long hidden secret 
of the full plan of a Washington Monument in our midst, such as our 
citzens desire. It has been the study of the undersigned that everything per- 
taining to the vast structure proposed, including even the smoke and steam 
(emblematic of worship) issuing from t,he spires upon the tops of the domes, 
though as a whole contrived to pay well in rents, should nevertheless, in all 
respects, answer as a whole, for a Washington Monument every way worthy 
of our great metropc-lis 

I ask the special attention of every New-Yorker, to what would be the 
magnificent display and capacity for use on public occasions of the Park, 
(Court Park,) and the new City Hall I propose. Court Park, Monument 
Park, and all the balconies aforesaid, thickly covered by a moving, waving. 



14 

mighty forest of persons of both sexes in holiday attire, would be the gor- 
geous spectacle, the picturesque scenery of humanity presented, the sight, I 
conceive, most magnificent in the world, produced by human ingenuity and 
labor. Consider, also, that the splendid views and cool fresh air to be 
had at all times iu every part of Monument Park, and in all the monument 
balconies, would be a source of enjoyment and just pride to the inhabitants 
of this great city for many generations. 

Lastly, I ask the attention of politicaus and all others who- desire an im- 
proved place for out door public speaking in the city, to the fact that at 
least a dozen different speakers standing with their particular friends in differ- 
ent places on the inaer 2d story balcony aforesaid, encircled and wholly 
protected by towering walls from the noise of the adjacent streets, could all 
at the same time without inconvenience one to the other, address at least two 
hundred thousund of their fellow citizens standing in the Park, (Court 
Park) and on the inner balconies aforesaid, while, in the intervals of speak- 
ing in this manner, numerous bands of music could play to great advantage 
on the inner 3d story balcony aforesaid. What a saving here, politicians, of 
the lungs of orators and of carpentry on platforms for an hour ! How 
greatly improved, party leaders, would be your accommodations to make 
converts to your respective principles I 

My plan for a new City Hall, after two years thought, lesearcb, obser- 
ving, planning and experimenting, answers, I find, so well so many desirable 
purposes, without any inconveniences or disadvantages, that I feel morally 
certain of its adoption under circumstances favorable or unfavorable to 
myself. I am without means and the influence which means give ; but I 
wish to have, and will have no connexion v;ith those, who, under any guise 
or pretence, intend to get money or property from the city, without ade- 
quate consideration In the part I am anxious to take in perfecting, com- 
pleting and in carrying out my plan aforesaid, I desire the association and 
direction of those of our well known, public spirited citizens, who will be 
simply jnst to me, just to the plan I propose, and just to the city, showing 
•hortly by complete plans, specifications and a full demonstration of facts, 
that a City Hall which would not pay a good interest on the cost in rents, 
should not be built, tliat the Buckmnn quadrangle of City flails, each like 
the present with an additional story, or of the Gilbert & Co. juxtaposition 
of two and three story buildings in the Park, would be inappropriate and 
unsuitable, that one five story building, the largest, the most useful and or 
namental in the world (outline herein given), should and can be built in the 
Park, and would pay a good interest on the cost in rents, and that the 
moaey nece33ary to erect said building, if not furnished by the C jrporation, 



15 

would be cheerfully by individuals, on the conditions before named, under 
the name and organization of " The Xcw-York City Hall Association." 

I desire that my plan with others for a new City Hall, shall have the 
closest examination, confident that in this trial, the plan I propose will 
present, over all, ten important advantages : first, architecural effects ; 
second, entirely fire proof ; third, a large number of rooms for stores, banks 
and private business offices, supplying in part, without the least disadvan- 
tage, the urgent wants of merchants anci business men in the locality ; 
fourth, more retired and convenient, and more splendidly built and situated 
Court and City Government rooms and offices ; fifth, a Park Hall, with 
walks, galleries, &c. the largest and most magnificent Hall in the world ; 
sixth, a Washington Hall, most elaborate in architecture and finish, con- 
taining statues ; one of George and one of Martha Washixgtox ; seventh, 
eight monuments, — Washington, Hamilton, Lafayette, Jefferson, Madison, 
Clinton, Fulton and Franklin. — Washington Monument 600 feet high, sur- 
rounded by 22 balconies, each commanding a full view of the Bay, Harbor 
and City of New-York ; eighth, promenades in halls, around balconies, over 
roof, and in Park (Court Park) vastly more attractive, and together, nearly 
three times larger than the present Park ; ninth, the Park encircled by 
aforesaid City Hall and Monuments, encircled, also, on the inner fronts of 
said City Hall, by balconies commanding, in every part, the entire view of 
said Park, and centh, the whole, if desired, built, not only without any tax 
or cost to the city, but with a bonus for the privilege, to the amount, at 
least, of one hundred thousand dollars. 

I desire to make direct and sufficient answer to the following objections : 
" Hough's plan for a new City Hall would destroy the present Park." — 
"The Park which we should have left by Hough's plan would be complete- 
ly encircled by an immense building, and this building, though having nu- 
merous arches through it, would, from said Park, almost wholly obstruct 
the view of the surrounding streets and buildings " " Hough's plan for a 
new City Hall would present to view from the surrounding streets, a mas- 
sive building in place of what is now, for the most part, a delightful pleasure 
ground." " Hough's plan for a new City Hall would lessen the value of 
property fronting on the Park." " Hough's plan for a new City Hall would 
increase the taxes and liabilities of the city too much." " Hough's plan for 
a new City Hall would be an undertaking which capitalists would shun." — 
" To carry out Hongli's plan to build Washington Monument 600 feet high, 
would require more money than could easily be obtained for the purpose, 
though a most laudable one." 

I remark, first, that, in this world of change and progress, one's loss is 
apt to be another's gain, and that the substitute for the thing destroyed is 
generally an improvement. I do not propose to destroy the Park in any 
fair meaning of these words. By somebody's plan a large City Hall must 
soon be built in the Park to meet the pressing requirements of the Courts 
and City Authorities. This City Hall wherever built in the Park, will 
stand wholly or mostly on ground now used for recresition. In one sense, 
then, the present Park must inevitably be destroyed. My plan may as well 



16 

do the work as any other. But in no legitimate sense, or fair construction 
of words, can it be said that my plan, or any other proposed for a City 
IJall, would destroy the present Park. I propose great alterations in the 
Park. The attractions of the Park, as I would have it, would be far diffe- 
rent, but, I maintain, would far surpass the attractions of the present Park, 
or the Park as we should have it by any of the plans of others. I have 
before shown that the Park by my plan for a City Hall, would have full as 
many square feet for recreation as any other proposed. The main question, 
then, to be settled, is one of difference in the advantages or disadvantages 
of the Park as I would have it, and the Park as some others would have it. 
If this difference is against me, and it is clear, as I affirm, that the desire- 
ableness, as a whole, of the halls, monuments, balconies, promenades, colon- 
nades, statues, decorations, rooms for courts, city authorities, stores, banks, 
private offices, &c, which I propose, will overcome and more than overcome 
aforesaid difference, then, us indisputable as any mathmatical demonstration, 
my plan for a City Hall will be proved the best. 

Looking about, sitting, standing or walking in tlie Park, as I would have 
it, what would you see ? You would see that you were surrounded by an 
immense building with numerous arches through it, and with fronts making 
a magnilicent circle and marble colonnade. Yuu would see lines of statues 
and decorations. You wonld see aforesaid eight monuments, each display- 
ing the skill of the best architects and mechanics ; some, at times, piercing 
the clouds, and again, their summits in golden hue by the first rays of the 
rising, or last of the setting sun. You would see persons walking in aforesaid 
inner balconies, along the inner front of aforesaid Monument Park and afore- 
said monument balconies. If the time was Summer, you would be convinced 
that Hough's Plan made the Park the coolest and best ventilated spot of 
ground in New-York, surrounded by buildings and streets. At any time 
yon would be satisfied that the dust and noise of the surrounding streets was 
effectually shut out. A little reflection, I think, will convince any one 
willing to be convinced, that the attractiveness of the views, in the Park, 
by ray plan, would far exceed the attractiveness of the views, from the pre- 
sent Park, of the surrounding streets and buildings. 

Standing or walking in Broadway or Park Row, in Centre or Chambers 
Streets, would looking in/o the present Park, or the Park remaining by the 
plans of others, excite as much interest and attention as looking at the new 
City Hall I propose with its marble colonnade fronts, its monuments, bal- 
conies, promenades, statues and decorations ? Certainly not, all, I think, 
will say giving the question put an unprejudiced and full consideration. 

Only property occupied by private residences is increased in value by 
fronting on open pleasure grounds or space open for recreation. The more 
compact and costly the buildings on streets in a business locality, the more 
valuable the real estate in that locality becomes. Therefore I maintain 
that the new City Hall I propose would add, at least, 25 per cent, to the 
value of property fronting on the Park, and would largely increase ihe valae 
of real estate in every direction in the neighborhood of the Park. 

Raise Sve millions of dollars, by tax, or by tax and credit of the city; and 
issue " City Hall Stock" for the balance required to build the City Hall pro- 



If 

posed, pledging the income from said City Hall, when completed, for the 
payment of said '' City Hall Stock;" and the five millions named would be 
the extent of my offense in "increasing the taxes and liabilities of the city 
too mnch," — a sum, not exceeding, and no doubt less than other j)lans pro- 
posed would require. 

The new City Hall, as I propose to have it, would stand upon the most 
valuable ground in the City of New- York. The Corporation offering to 
capitalists, on the conditions aforesaid, the privilege to carry out " Hough's 
plan for a new City Hall," all familiar with the energy and foresight of 
New-York capitalists, know that there would not be much time to say — 
"they shun the undertaking." 

If we Americans cannot easily build, in New- York, on solid earth, a 
monument iu honor of the great Washington, about in height the length of 
a now nearly completed British Steamship, calculated strong enough to 
weather the fiercest storms of the ocean, I think, as Americans, we ought 
to be ashamed of ourselves, and to distrust both our ability and our patriot- 
ism. But I believe we have the ability, liberality and patriotism to build 
the Washington Monument proposed. Away, theu, with misgivings, Coun- 
trymen of Washington, of Franklin, of Clinton and of Fulton! and soon 
make this monument a sign, a wonder, a mark in the sky, showing, at once, 
your enterprise, nationality and love of liberty. 

I desire to arrest the attention of architects, artists, builders, iron dealers, 
iron founders, machinests and mechanics, and laborers mainly or exclusively 
employed in the construction of buildings, to the fact, that the adoption of 
my plan for a uew City Hall, would, in comparison with other plans, be a 
personal advantage to much the largest number in the occupations and trades 
named. 

The appropriation required to build a new City Hall, must have the appro- 
val of our State Legislature. No plan for a City Hall can be carried out 
without that approval. Therefore, neither Messrs. Buckman's, or any other 
plan, though adopted by both branches of our Common Council and aprov- 
ed by our Mayor, can be a finality, until the requsite appropriation therefor, 
receives the ascent of the legislature aforesaid. The state, national, patri- 
otic, and public uses of the building herein proposed, would undoul)tedly autho- 
rize our State Legislature, to give to a company all the legal rights nescessary 
to erect, as described, and to own said building on conditions named afore- 
said, these conditions being the considerations or damages awarded to the 
city for the ground upon which said building would staud. But our City 
Government, it is belered, after full inquiry and discussion, will decide that 
the " Buckman Architecture" is not the best, that th? contemplated " Buck- 
man Tax" of five or six millions of dollars is a wholly unnacessary burthen 
from which the overtaxed citizens of New-York, may be very properly 
relieved, anH further, that all plans for a City Hail requiring money from, 
or which will not put money into the City Treasury, shall be reieated. 

I have a Model of the City Hall herein proposed. 
Substitute, if desired, in place in part of rooms aforesaid for Banks, Stores and OfiSces, 
Buitablo rooms for Custom House, Mint, ofiTico of Assistant Treasurer, &o. Let our new 
Post Office be situated, and occupy a'l the space required, in the lierein proposed City 
Hall on Chambers Street from Centre Street, towards Broadway, makinj^ suitable rooms 
for the purpose, iu place of aforesaid rooms for Banks, Stores and OtBces, and leaving 
out, if necessary, aforesaid Chambers Street Arches; or, if deemed tinally best, put. 
suitably constructed, said Post 0(Bce at the South end of the Park, in place of aforesaid 
Washington Hall and rooms for Stores and Offices adjoining. 



18 

And in case said Post Office shall be situated as last mentioned, com- 
mence at second story, the open inner or railway space aforesaid in 
Washington Monument. Thus said Post Office can have one room in 
first story in apartments as desired, fronting, north end, on arch under 
Lafayette Monument 100 feet, on arch under Hamilton Monument 100 
feet, and on the Park 100 feet ; with front on Broadway and Park Row, 
each, at option, from 300 to 350 feet, and front on junction of Broadway 
and Park Row 100 feet, less 20 feet stairway to second story passage 
hall, making the open, or Street and Park front together, at option, from 
780 to 880 feet, and, without deducting space occupied by walls of Wash- 
ington Monument, containing an area, at option, from 60 to 70,000 square 
feet. 

The City Hall of the City Hall Commissioners, appointed by our 
State Legislature, may be all that part of the City Hall I propose in rear 
of the present City Hall ; or that part on Centre Street, Chambers Street 
and Broadway, between and including Fulton and Clinton monuments ; 
or that part only embracing aforesaid 1st Section. 

On conditions iu substance before stated, and certain conditions of 
conveyance of a portion of the Park to the Government of the United 
States, with the consent of the City Hall Commissioners, aforesaid, the 
Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New-York, can imme- 
diately least to a Company the necessary ground in the Park upon which 
to build the City Hall I propose, with a condition that the time of said 
lease may be extended for a specified period by our State Legislature, 
or a condition requiring our City Authorities, under certain forfeitures, 
to apply to said Legislature for authority, and obtaining it, to make to 
said Company a full conveyance by deed of aforesaid ground in the 
Park upon the terms and stipulations in substance aforesaid. 

Our City, State and United States Authorities, acting in concert, in a 
spirit of union and nationality, can, in this time of peace, obtain for them- 
selves, our city, state and nation, honor and distinction more to be de- 
sired than the laurels of a Marengo or Austerlitz. Said Authorities 
then, rising, as true Americans, above party, yet respecting party divi- 
sions and interests, will soon, it is hoped, agree, that the City Hall Com- 
missioners, aforesaid, shall direct and superintend the erection of all that 
part of the aforesaid proposed new City Hall, in rear of the present 
City Hall ; that in the building of the City Hall proposed from said limit 
to, and including Lafayette and Hamilton monuments, the City Autho- 
rities shall have oversight and direction ; and that the erection of the 
remaining part of said proposed City Hall, from Lafayette and Hamil- 
ton monuments to junction of Broadway and Park Row, including, of 
course, Washington Monument, shall be under the direction and super- 
intendence of the United States Authorities. 

Other influences being insufficient, the metropolitan and patriotic 
emulation, and direct interests of the great mass of our citizens, will un- 
doubtedly soon have the efflsct so far to harmonize conflicting political 
purposes and plans, as to allow our capitalists, with their money, and our 
architects, artists, contractors, mechanics and laborers, with their known 
energy, skill and industry, to build, without delay, the City Hall herein 
outlined — a City Hall with arches, colonnades, balconies, promenades, 
monuments, halls, rooms for courts, public and private offices, banks, 
stores, post office, &c., making, iu the hands of the capitalists, architects, 
artists, contractors, mechanics and laborers aforesaid, the most magnifi- 



19 

cent and desirable combination in the world for he purposes designed, 
namely : ornament, recreation, public and private business use. 




The above engraving of the City Hall I [propose, taken from the 
model before mentioned, and the best I can now afford, shows promi- 
nently Washington Monument and the fronts ou Park Row and Centre 
Street. All the smaller monuments should be more prominent. Madi- 
son. Jefferson and Franklin monuments should be nearly twice the 
height represented above Monument Park. All the balconies and the 
top of the fronts on Broadway and Chamber Street, should have the 
Gothic pointing and decoration which the top of the fronts on Park Row 
and Centre Street represent. 

I remark, in conclusion, that I have made the proposals, specifications 
and suggestions contained in this pamphlet without the advice, council 
or knowledge of any one, although not by occupation an architect ; and 
that my purpose is, and has been, through much effort and perseverance 
for now over three years, to propose a City Hall, worthy and certain 
to be built, and when built, having all the advantages and attractions 
aforesaid, to prove, directly and indirectly, a pecuniary benefit to all the 
inhabitants of this rising Metropolis of the New World. 

To perfect, complete, and fully present in detail before the public 
and City authorities my plan for a new City Hall, and if expedient, to 
form " The New-York City Hall Association," time and expense, which 
I cannot aflford gratis, will be required. Therefore, needing compensa- 
tion hereafter in an undertaking proved practical, and it is believed, 
highly desirable by what, without pay, I have already accomplished, I 
respectfully solicit subscriptions to the amount of one thousand dollars, 
assured that the public-spirited citizens of New- York will readily sub- 
scribe the amount named, to have complete before them, without delay, 
the plan of building promising to excel every other, ancient or modern, 
in utility, ornament and gigantic dimensions. 

D. HOUGH, Jr., 45 Liberty Street. 



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